It is 3.30 in the afternoon and we have checked into the Southern Ocean Motor Lodge in Port Campbell, both totally footsore and weary, but full of the varied landscapes we've seen today.

Checked out of Apollo Bay before 9.30 and headed back up the coast to Skenes Creek where we turned left to take the road to the Otway Treetop Adventure. This is on the road that loops to the north side of the Otway National Park and we had been warned it twisted and turned. But what a spectacular drive it was.

The road wound its way through the dense forest as it climbed higher and higher. The scenery was just of trees and dense undergrowth but so stunningly beautiful it almost made you want to cry with emotion. The trees were again those beautiful eucalyptus with their ramrod straight trunks, the bark shredded away at low level and the majority of the trunk smooth and pale. Tree ferns now reaching 15-20ft high. Miles and miles and miles. Saw a couple of Roos along the way.

Kept wondering when we would get to the treetop walk. Eventually came to a turnoff in the middle of fields. Where were the trees? Don't doubt the promised mountain myrtles and mountain ash trees were at the end of the long footpath down to the visitor centre, but we couldn't see how this could better what we had already seen and as it was drizzling heavily - not quite rain but very wetting - and only 11 degrees we decided to give it a miss. Not at all disappointed. We were dying for a caffeine fix but not even the promise of a coffee at the visitor centre could persuade us to visit.

Salvation came a little way down the road when we came to a ramshackle corrugated metal building with a sign outside offering coffee. What a find! A café cum grocery store cum museum cum gallery called the Otway NouriShed (great name). Gorgeous proper coffee and a giant size blueberry muffin each that had been baked this morning by the owner/proprietor Amy using locally grown blueberries that were bursting with juiciness.

Moving on we rejoined the Great Ocean Road. Stopped off at Gibsons Steps - more than 80 very steep steps down the side of a sheer cliff into the beach below and views along to the start of the 12 Apostles. Worth the walk down.

Next stop, the 12 Apostles Visitor Centre with series of pathways giving incredible views of the huge sandstone Apostles - no longer 12 of them as they are gradually getting battered away by the sea to and the elements. Stunning.

And then the Loch Ard Gorge with more footpaths and walkways overlooking this beautiful inlet of water where yesterday's story of the young ship's apprentice saving the life of the teenaged Irish immigrant girl after the Loch Ard ran aground was put into context.

Totally worn out, we drove on to Port Campbell where we are staying tonight. A tiny town with 260 inhabitants, all very quiet now as it is out of season but heaving with tourists in the summer. Took a walk along the short length of the one road that runs through the town where we will go again this evening for something to eat.

Shattered and we only tickled the surface of all those footpaths at Loch Ard gorge.

Will post pix another time - wifi signal not up to it here in Port Campbell. Note: pic illustrating this blog was a library pic for the same reason.